9 Nature Crafts for Kids That’ll Get Them Super Excited About The Great Outdoors

Getting outside with kids is pure magic and crafting with nature makes it even better!

We love watching little faces light up when they create something special using treasures they found in their own backyard or at the local park.

There’s something so special about combining creativity with outdoor exploration.

Nature crafts give kids all ages, a chance to develop fine motor skills, boost creativity and build a deeper connection with the natural world – all while having an absolute blast!

We’ve gathered 9 super-fun nature craft ideas, easy nature crafts and craft ideas that are perfect for kids of all ages.

These projects are easy to do, use materials you can find for free and create minimal mess (okay, maybe a little mess but the fun is totally worth it!).

1) Leaf Prints: Go on a leaf hunt, grab some paint and make awesome prints

Let’s get messy with one of our favorite nature show crafts for kids!

Take the kids on a leaf hunt and grab some paint and paper.

Look for leaves with many different colours, shapes and sizes – the more variety the better!

Set up your craft space with paint, brushes, paper and your collected leaves.

We love using bright colors to make the prints pop!

Pro tip: put down some old newspapers first because things might get a bit wild.

Ready for the fun part?

Paint the leaves on one side and press onto paper.

When you lift the leaf you’ll see amazing patterns and textures appear like magic!

Each print is unique which makes this craft extra special.

The best part? This activity works year round!

We’ve made gorgeous summer leaf prints with vibrant colors and stunning fall prints with warm autumn shades.

Trust us your kiddos will be amazed when they see their leaf masterpieces come to life.

Remember there’s no wrong way to make leaf prints. Let the kids experiment with the different shapes, colors and patterns.

Some of our most beautiful creations came from happy accidents!

2) Rock Painting: Collect rocks and turn them into cute critters or funky designs

Let’s get our hands dirty with one of our favorite nature crafts!

First take the kiddos on a rock-hunting adventure in your backyard or local park. Finding the perfect rocks is half the fun!

Animal rocks are super fun to paint – we love making cute owls, bunnies and other adorable critters.

Don’t worry if you’re not an artist – these are totally beginner friendly!Ladybugs and frogs are perfect for little ones.

All you need are basic acrylic paints and brushes. Paint markers work great too for adding details.

Want something different?

Try making a rock snake by painting multiple stones in fun patterns. Line them up in your garden for a whimsical touch!

The best part? There’s no wrong way to do this.

Let the kids get creative and express themselves. Some of our favorite designs come from happy accidents and wild imagination!

Remember to seal your finished rocks with clear spray paint if you plan to keep them outside. This helps protect all that awesome artwork from the elements.

3) Nature Mobiles: Use sticks, leaves and string to make a mobile masterpiece

Let’s make something amazing with treasures from our backyard!

Making a nature mobile starts with a fun treasure hunt where we collect pretty leaves, sticks and other such natural objects and goodies.

First we need to find two sturdy sticks and tie them together in a cross shape.

Don’t worry if it’s not perfect – that’s part of the fun! Make sure to leave a long piece of string at the top so we can hang our creation.

Now comes the best part – decorating!

We can tie our nature treasures to the sticks with string or yarn.

Think colorful leaves, or small leaves, pinecones, feathers or whatever cool stuff we found outside.

The trick is to balance the items by moving them closer or farther along the sticks.

For our crafty kids who want an extra challenge we can use fishing line instead of string – it makes the items look like they’re floating in mid-air! How magical is that?

This project is super flexible – we can make it as simple or fancy as we want. Plus it’s a great excuse to get outside and explore nature with our little ones!

4) Bird Feeders: Create pinecone feeders to attract feathered friends

Let’s get messy with this super fun and easy craft that’ll bring some adorable feathered visitors right to your backyard!

Making pine cone bird feeders is one of our absolute favorite spring activities to do with the kiddos.

All you need are pine cones, peanut butter, birdseed and string.

We love how simple these supplies are – you might even have them in your pantry right now!

First tie your string around the top of the pine cone.

Then comes the fun (and messy!) part – let the kids slather that pine cone with peanut butter.Don’t worry about the mess – that’s what makes it memorable!

Now for the really fun part – roll those sticky pine cones in birdseed!

Different types of seeds like sunflower and nyjer will attract different birds to your yard.

Our kids love watching the seeds stick everywhere!

Hang your finished feeders outside where you can watch from a window.

Trust us – nothing beats seeing your kids’ faces light up when the first little bird discovers their handmade creation!

5) Mud Sculptures: Get messy and sculpt mud creations in the backyard

Let’s get messy and have some serious fun with mud!

Mud sculptures are a great way to let kids get creative while connecting with nature.

First, find a spot in your yard where it’s totally fine to get dirty.

We like to see children set up a dedicated mud play space – it can be as simple as a corner of the garden or even a large plastic tub.

Not all mud is created equal!

We recommend digging a few test holes to find the perfect consistency.

Add water as needed to get that just-right sculptable texture.

Trust us, finding the sweet spot makes all the difference!

Make it extra fun by adding natural decorations like twigs, pebbles and leaves to your mud creations.

Our kids love pressing flowers into their sculptures for a magic touch.

Want to take it up a notch?

Try mixing in some washable paint to create colourful mud masterpieces.

Just remember to dress for mess – this activity is not for keeping clean!

6) Flower Crowns: Become your inner garden goddess with a DIY flower crown

Let’s get our flower child on with this super easy and fun craft!

Flower crowns without wire are totally doable and perfect for little hands to master.

We like to use dandelions from the backyard, but any flowers with long stems will work.

The best part? This fun activity gets us outside hunting for the perfect blooms together!

Take those pretty flowers and start linking them together by making small splits in the stems.

We slide one flower into the body after another, creating a chain that will fit perfectly around your little one’s head and body.

It’s like magic watching it come together!

Want to level up your flower crown game?

Try mixing different types and colours of flowers for a more whimsical and fun look.

Your kids will feel like woodland fairies in no time!

Remember, fresh flowers won’t last forever, but that’s part of the fun!We can make new crowns whenever we want, so that’s the perfect time and excuse to get outside and create something beautiful together.

7) Pressed Flower Art: Preserve lovely petals and turn them into wall art

Who doesn’t love collecting pretty flowers? We’re big fans of preserving nature’s beauty through pressed flower art. It’s such a fun way to help our kids connect with the outdoors!

Getting started is easy peasy! Just grab some flowers from your garden or neighborhood walk (with permission, of course!).

Avoid super thick or water-rich flowers like succulents since they don’t press well.

Let’s get crafty!

Place your flowers between two pieces of paper and stick them inside a heavy book. We like to pile more books on top for extra squishing power.

Now comes the hard part – waiting about 2-3 weeks while nature works its magic!

Once your flowers are fully dried, it’s craft time! Create stunning wall art by arranging your pressed flowers in floating frames or making pretty botanical designs.

Our kids love mixing different colors and shapes to make unique patterns.

This project is perfect for tiny hands and growing minds. Plus, you’ll end up with gorgeous decor that brings a bit of nature indoors. Win-win! Each piece tells a special story of outdoor adventures, nature activities and creative family fun.

8) Nature Suncatchers: Use leaves and petals for beautiful window decorations

We love making this magical nature suncatcher craft that turns your windows into stunning displays. All you need is contact paper, scissors and your favorite nature treasures!

First, grab the kids and head outside for a fun nature hunt. Look for colorful leaves, petals, small flowers and blades of grass.

Trust us – this part is just as fun as making the craft itself!

Creating these beautiful window decorations is easy peasy.

Cut two circles from contact paper and place your nature finds between the sticky sides. We like making them about the size of a paper plate.

Don’t forget to punch a small hole at the top and add some string for hanging.

When you’re done, hang your masterpiece in a sunny window and watch how the light shines through your nature collection – it’s amazing!

These suncatchers work with any season’s treasures. Try fall leaves and autumn flowers in September or spring grass and blooms in April.

Your kids will be so proud to see their nature inspired name art brightening up your home!

9) Twig Picture Frames: Design rustic frames using twigs and imagination

Let’s bring the outdoors in with this super fun craft the kids will love! Gather some twigs from your backyard – it’s like a treasure hunt that gets the kids moving and exploring nature.

Making a twig frame is easier than you think. We just need some twigs, glue and a basic wooden frame to start.

The kids can arrange the twigs in any way they like – there’s no wrong way to do this!

Got a nature lover in your life? These handmade twig frames make great gifts for grandparents, teachers or anyone special.

Plus they’re free to make since we’re using materials from Mother Nature herself!

We love turning this into a whole family adventure. Take a nice walk together to collect twigs, play games, share stories and then create something beautiful.

The kids will be so proud to see their woodland masterpiece on the wall.

Pro tip: Let the kids decorate their frames with small pinecones, acorns or dried flowers too. It adds that extra special touch that makes each frame unique – just like our little crafters!

Nature Crafts for Kids Benefits

Getting crafty with natural materials gives kids the opportunity to be creative while connecting with the great outdoors. Plus it’s so much fun!

Boosting Creativity and Imagination

Let’s be real – there’s something magical about turning ordinary outdoor discoveries into extraordinary art.

When kids work with natural materials they have to think outside the box in ways that store bought craft supplies can’t match.

We love watching little ones get creative with their finds! A stick becomes a magic wand, pine cones become tiny creatures and leaves become beautiful art.

This open ended play helps develop problem solving skills and builds confidence.

Natural materials are wonderfully imperfect which teaches kids that not everything needs to look “Pinterest perfect” to be beautiful. They learn to embrace happy accidents and work with what they find.

Encouraging Outdoor Exploration

Kids who make nature crafts can spend time get way more time outside than those who don’t – how cool is that?

These activities give them a mission when they go outside: find the materials for their next masterpiece!

We’ve found that nature crafts help kids slow down and really notice the world around them. They start pointing out different leaf shapes, collecting interesting rocks and getting excited about finding cool pinecones.Being in nature is so important for kids in our digital world. It gets them moving, breathing fresh air and developing a real connection with the environment.

Plus it’s a great way for us to sneak in some screen free time without any complaints!

Material Sourcing Tips

Let’s get into some fun ideas on ways to gather craft supplies from nature while keeping our kids safe and teaching them to be good stewards of the environment! We promise these tips will make your crafting adventures both fun and worry free.

Natural and Recyclable Materials

Sustainable sourcing of materials is super important to us as parents who want to protect nature for our kiddos. We like to collect:

• Fallen leaves (never pull from living plants!)

• Pinecones from the ground

• Smooth rocks from our backyard

• Sticks and twigs that have already dropped

• Empty paper towel rolls

• Clean plastic containers

Only take what we need.

We make it a game with our little ones – “Let’s find 5 perfect pinecones!” This teaches them to be mindful collectors.

Safety Tips for Little Adventurers

Remember these safety rules when collecting with your tiny explorers:

• Always watch for sharp edges on sticks or rocks

• Wear gloves when picking up natural items

• Check for bugs or critters hiding in materials

• Avoid mushrooms or unknown plants

• Stay away from areas with poison ivy or oak

We like to dry our natural treasures in the sun before storing. This prevents mold and keeps our crafting supplies fresh for future projects!

Pro tip: Keep a small first aid kit in your collection bag – those thorny branches can be sneaky!